12 indicted in multi-county theft ring

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A grand jury handed out indictments Thursday and among the cases was 12 people accused of stealing property from three different counties that could be valued in the millions of dollars.

The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s office calls the case a very organized string of crimes, with 12 Youngstown residents named in a 29-count indictment on charges that include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft and receiving stolen property.

According to the indictment, the thefts happened between February and April of 2013.

Bob McClellan of Vienna was one of the victims.

“I’m very unhappy about the situation,” he said.

He said the group took a truck, trailer and race car, more than $20,000 worth, from the lot next to his house in the middle of one February night.

“None of this stuff was insured. I’m out. This is a total loss for me. Well, the truck and trailer I got them back, there was insurance on them, but there was no insurance on everything else,” McClellan said.

Investigators believe the theft ring operated out of Youngstown, where the planning occurred, and also where the group sold the stolen items. They then would split the money.

Officials with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office said numerous law enforcement agencies helped in this case from Mahoning, Trumbull and Stark counties.

All of the suspects are due in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for arraignment on Tuesday.